Pinata Popper

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for use at parties which can resemble any shape or character with a hollow body. It is supported in mid air and filled with candies or prizes. The internal mechanisms are as such, the trap door assembly on the belly of the hollow body is held in place with wax, glue or tape. Once the children hit it enough breaking the bond between the trap door and the hollowed body the trap door swings open by means of a torsion spring releasing the candy within. When the trap door swings open it will actuate the confetti popper by pulling a string attached to the trap door and the popper releasing a shower of confetti!

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to piñatas and other novelty items thathold candy or prizes and are dispensed when opened.

Piñatas are well known party favors that have a deep history rootedwithin multiple cultures, some say that Marco Polo brought the idea fromChina to Italy, Spain then to the Americas. Regardless of where it wasoriginated we now have a great past time for children to enjoy an oldcustom during a celebration. Modern Piñatas are mostly made fromcardboard or paper mache. They still function in many of the same waysas they did in the past where as the piñata is filled with candy,children are blind folded, spun, and given a chance to break the piñataopen with a stick. There are however; prior art piñatas that functionthrough a pull string method which is desirable when one has smallchildren or chooses not to expose them to violent methods. These days'children are a lot harder to impress and although the need to reinventthe piñata has been a novel one each new reinvention allows children toenjoy their celebration with a more modern twist.

2. Description of Prior Art

The following patents describe various types of piñatas:

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,078 to Oquita, Sep. 11, 1979;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,514 to Oquita, Feb. 5, 1980;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,915 to Boris, Jun. 12, 1990;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,308 to Estrada, Sep. 7, 1993;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,194 to Lasen, Jul. 16, 1996;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,904 to Grey, Mar. 12, 2002;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,106 to Menow, Oct. 28, 2008;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,803,057 to De Souza, Sep. 28, 2010;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,721,382 to Otero, May 13, 2014;

Although the above mentioned piñatas may be similar in appearance ordescription the present invention is unique in utilization andmechanisms within the piñata that add a modern twist to an old custom.These differences which will be described in more detail hereinafter,are essential for the effective use of the invention and are notavailable with prior devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a piñata system which when actuated releasesthe spring loaded trap door on the underbelly of the piñatasimultaneously engaging a party popper within releasing both candy andconfetti. The piñata system can be constructed in any style of piñatathat uses a hollow body, usually made from cardboard. An air compressedparty popper or a spring loaded party popper is positioned verticallywithin the hollowed body, which is held in position by a retainingdevice that is glued or stapled to the top part of the hollowed body. Astring is attached to the actuating mechanism on the party popper thenvertically strung down to the unhinged side of the trapdoor where it isfastened through the cardboard. The trap door is a rectangular cut outof the present material in this case cardboard which is still attachedto the hollowed body on one side. The uncut edge is then folded toprovide ease of motion and a hinged effect. A metal spring with lighttension is attached to the hinged side of the hollow body along thefolded cardboard edge, this will provide some tension on the trap doorand store enough energy to pull the string connected to the popper oncethe trap door is actuated. Along the cutout lines of the trapdoor andhollowed body either glue, wax or a brittle tape is placed holding thetrap door and the hollow body together. When the children hit the sidesof the piñata where the glue, wax or tape is placed it will slowly startto break the bond between the trap door and the hollowed body. Once thebond has weakened enough the spring on the hinge will force the trapdoor to swing open pulling the string attached to the popper, which willthen release the confetti from the piñata simultaneously releasing thestored candy within.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is madeto the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1. Is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2. Is an exploded cross sectional view of the hollowed body wherethe piñata is in a closed position to include the inner mechanisms.

FIG. 3. Is an exploded cross sectional view of the hollowed body wherethe piñata is in an open position to include the actuated mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The present invention can be made in many shapes and styles. In thedrawings presented the piñata has a simple traditional shape that of abull. Such a shape is merely exemplary and is used to illustrate thepresent invention. It will then be understood that the drawings will notlimit the bodily appearance of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1. The embodiment of the invention is depicted toinclude confetti popper mechanism and trap door assembly.

The piñata system 10 includes a hollow body 12. which where in is housedthe confetti popper mechanism 14 and trapdoor assembly 17. whichincludes a torsion spring 16. that provides tension for the trap door18. The trap door is cut out of the hollowed body 12. and is sealed withglue, wax or tape 20. along the cut out, this provides a temporary bondbetween the hollowed body 12. and the trap door 18. A string 22. istethered from the confetti popper 14. to the unhinged edge of the trapdoor 24. opposite of the emplaced torsion spring 16. The hollowed body12. can then be filled with candy and prizes through an entry 26. in thehollowed body.

To utilize the the piñata system, the hollowed body 12. is filled withcandy and prizes it is then suspended in the air. Children then taketurns being blind folded and hitting the piñata 10. which in turn willweaken the bond 20. between the trap door 18. and the hollowed body 12.Once the bond 20. is broken the trap door 18. is flung open by thetorsion spring 16. the string 22. connected to the trap door 18. is thenpulled this in turn will actuate the confetti popper 14. which willrelease a shower of confetti 30 and release the stored candy and prizesstored within the hollowed body 12.

Referring to FIG. 2. a blown up cross sectional view of the piñata'shollowed body in the closed position is provided. The hollowed body 12can be composed of any material but in this instance cardboard ispreferred to provided a sturdy yet cost effective material. The hollowedbody 12 can be made in any shape, style and size that allows the trapdoor assembly 17 to actuate. The trap door 18 is cut from the hollowedbody 12 this cut shown with perforated lines 19 can be cut in anyfashion so long as the trap door 18 has one side still fastened to thehollowed body creating a seem 21. That side is then folded over to allowa crease to be made at the seem 21 giving it ease of motion. A spring 16with 2 inch ends is then twisted to provided torsion and stapled to thehollowed body. This will provide torsion for the trap door 18. when thebond 20. is broken between the hollowed body 12. and the trap door 18.The party popper 14. is glued within the hollowed body. The string 22.that actuates the popper is then fed through a small hole within thetrap door 18. that string is fastened 24 to the trap door 18. with lighttension.

Referring to FIG. 3. A blown up cross sectional view of the hollowedbody in the open position is provided. Once the bond 20 is brokenbetween the hollowed body 12. and the trap door 18., the spring 16.twists trying to return to its former state that in turn swings the trapdoor 18. open releasing the candy within. The party popper 14. connectedby the string 22. actuates through the pulling force of the spring 16.this in turn releases the confetti 30 within the popper.

What is claimed is:
 1. A one time use piñata comprising of: (a) Aconfetti popper be it spring loaded, air compressed or any other styleof confetti popper that is secured within the hollowed body. (b) A trapdoor assembly comprising of a bottom planar and side members beingpivotally attached to the hollowed body (c) Said members are bonded tothe hollowed body through glue, wax or tape this holding method isunique in that it is used for the actuation process of the invention.(d) A spring which is used in conjunction with the trap door thatprovides torsion for the mechanism.